Model building Tips

Busted!! Several of my brushes had disappeared, eventually found
stashed under the couch!

This section is dedicated to the basics of plastic model building. There
are many websites out there devoted to models, but most are just galleries of
completed work. They're great for giving you ideas about what you'd like to
do, but not much help when you need to improve your own
results. If you're just getting started or want to pick up a few tips, perhaps
something here will help.

When reading the instructions and recommended tools listed in these pages,
keep in mind the age of the potential model builder. A sharp exacto
knife is standard equipment for working on these models, but for a pre-teenage
child such a tool is dangerous. This is a great hobby to introduce
to your children, but adult supervision and help is necessary. Consider
it a chance to spend some quality time with your kid. Learning how
to build a model kit teaches a child patience, planning, and hand-eye
coordination. Don't expect a child just learning to enjoy the frustration
of trying and failing to build a model too advanced for their experience,
but on the other hand you want them to be challenged and not every model
has to come out "perfect". I've never seen a model yet where I couldn't
find something about it to praise, even if it's just that they managed to
finish it.

One last point: While I've tried to anticipate and cover all the basic
questions people have when learning how to work with plastic, glue, and paint,
this should be considered a starting point only in learning the hobby.
Feel free to email me with requests for additional information, and if
I don't know the answer I can point you to people who will. There
are other model builders on the net who will be happy to give their own answers
and recommendations - you won't find a more helpful group of folks anywhere.
One place I highly recommend is the Polar Lights Bulletin Board at
Hobby Talk.

Learning the
Basics

Getting
Started So you're ready to try something more complicated than
"Snap-tights"?

Mold
Lines A little sanding, a little putty, and two parts become
one.